Akira Sudo (1952–2026) was a Japanese music producer and writer from Toyama Prefecture. After graduating from the University of Tokyo’s English and American literature program, he joined CBS/Sony in 1977. He worked with artists including Yutaka Ozaki, Shogo Hamada, Kozo Murashita, and Koji Tamaki before establishing Karinto Factory in 1996. His approach emphasized lyrics and close dialogue with singer-songwriters, helping shape their ideas and emotions into recorded work. In “Ozaki Yutaka Oboegaki,” a memoir of roughly ten years with Ozaki, Sudo recounts their first meeting, recording sessions, and the musician’s life beyond the stage. Writing from the perspective of a creative partner, he presents both the celebrated singer of youthful frustration and the individual searching for words and direction during the making of his songs. From 2015, Sudo also served as artistic director of the Toyama City Arts Foundation, contributing to music and performing arts in his home prefecture.
